Truss-pad



I. N. FOOTE.

(No Model.)

muss PAD.

No. 311,739. Patented Feb. 3, 1885.

s e s S e n uh W N. PETERS, Fholo-Lllhegrapher, Washmglam D. c

UNrrsD Starts PATENT Prion.

ISAAC N. FOOT'E, OF MIDDLETOWN, OHIO.

TRUSS-PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,739, dated February 3, 1885.

Application ti ed April 28, 1884. (No model,)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC N. Foorn, of Mid dlctown, Butler county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Truss- Pads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the general construction and arrangement of parts in trusspads; and it will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a truss-pad illustrating my present invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 a plan of the same. 1

In the drawings, A represents a hollow shell of soft rubber or analogous material, and having substantially the form of a hemisphere with a concave face. truss seated within the concavity of the shell, and projecting above the surrounding rim 0. D is a screw in the back of the pad, by which it may be secured to the strap attachment. The button B presses back the protrusion, while the rim 0 exerts a pressure independent of the button upon thesurrounding muscular tissues. The shell of the pad is air-tight, whereby it becomes naturally elastic; but I fillthe chant her with glycerine or other suitable liquid, and thus" provide a peculiar adaptability com bined with an elasticity due to the elasticity of the substance of the shell. The screw D has its head inside the shell of the pad, and it is made tight by nut and washer. It may be provided with any desired means for making connection with the strap. I give to the button B a further element of elasticity byinserting under it a spring, G, and attaching it articularly to the shell. The joint of articulation is a hinge, which should be constructed with considerable looseness, so as to permit a small amount of tipping in every direction. The button may thus adjust itself in direction and pressure independent of the rim 0.

In practice I mold the rubber shell to form, and secure within the concavity of the same a cup, F, to which I attach the button by hinging, as before mentioned. This cup I secure within the concavity of the shell by means of cement or otherwise, as may be found desirable. I further cause the truss'pad to form a generator of electricity. The cup F, I form of copper. The button B, I form of hard rubber Bis the button of the or other insulating material. Beneath the button I place a zinc lining, H, which is not allowcd to come in contact with the copper cup. The zinc lining has a projection, I, through the button, forming an electrode upon the outer face of the button. Another electrode, J, in the face of the button connects with the cup through the medium ofthe spring G, and it is not allowed to make contact with the zinc lining of the button. A wad, K, of absorbent material, lies within the cup in contact with both of the elements of the battery, and it contains the exciting-liquid. Other material than those mentioned may be used for the battery elements, and they may be otherwise disposed within the cup.

\Vhen the truss-pad is applied to the person, the initial pressure comes upon the button and presses it backwardly more or less into the concavity of the pad. This backward pressure serves to displace a portion of the liquid contents of the pad and to cause the facial rim to expand forwardly into a perfect fit against the person, and the pressure which the button receives is. transmitted through the solid inelastic contents of the pad.

Truss-pads havebeen filled with air, which endowed them with an elasticity due to the elasticity of the air. In my device the liquid is inelastic. and serves, on the displacement principle, to cause the pad-rim to adapt itself perfectly to the person.

In a truss-pad heretofore invented by me I made use of a hollow rubber hemisphere wit-h a hard button seated upon the convex face thereof. The pad was to be filled with air or liquid, and if the pad was partially emptied the but-ton could recede somewhat into the face of the pad, forming a concave seat therein. Such concave facial seat was formed by the partial vacuum within the pad, and the action of the padunder pressure was somewhat erratio, there being no defined location for the facial concavity. In the present invention I have remedied this defect by molding the pad with a permanent facial concavity, resulting in a well-defined and permanent ring closely surrounding the button.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a hollow truss-pad, a permanent facial concavity and peripheral facial ring, a back of soft rubber or analogous material, and a hard button seated within the concavity, comforming a lining for said concavity, a cover bined substantially as and for the purpose set articulated to said cup, and forming the butforth. 4 ton of the truss-pad, electrodes presenting at 2. In atruss-pad, the combination of a shell the faces of said button, and an electric bat- I5 5 of soft rubber or analogous material having a tery beneath said cover, and joined up with facial concavity, a cup secured within and I said electrodes, substantially as and for the formingalining for said concavity, and a hard purpose set forth.

button articulated to said cup, substantially I ISAAC N. FOOTE. as and for the purpose set forth. I Witnesses: 10 3. The combination of a truss-pad having a BROWN SWINK,

facial concavity, a cup secured within and JOHN W. OTTERBIN. 

